$8m funding committed for safety officers on Darwin, Palmerston buses

The Opposition says extending transit safety officer funding is ‘expected’ in the context of many Territorians feeling scared to catch public transport.

Funding for bus cops to patrol the Top End public transport network has been extended for two years.

Funding for bus cops to patrol the Top End public transport network has been extended for two years.

The government on Monday announced $8 million would be invested to maintain the current 21 Transit Safety Officers patrolling buses, bus stops and interchanges in Darwin and Palmerston.

Laws granting transit officers the power to use capsicum spray were introduced last year, part of a suite of measures introduced in the wake of 20-year-old bottleshop worker Declan Laverty’s death.

It followed a move in 2022 allowing transit safety officers to ban and arrest passengers.

Infrastructure Minister Joel Bowden said the continued funding would help improve safety on public transport.

“Our transit safety officers provide a valuable role both at the interchanges and on the buses themselves in ensuring passengers can travel on public transport safely,” he said.

“We are focused on creating a safer transport network for passengers and our hard working bus drivers.”

He said there had been no instances of transit officers using OC spray since it was introduced in September.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Infrastructure Minister Joel Bowden commit $8m for transit safety officers over two years. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Asked how the success of the additional security presence was being measured, Chief Minister Eva Lawler said it was “a constant focus” of her government to reduce incidents at interchanges and allow people to feel safe catching public transport.

“This is clearly very much about having that high visibility presence at bus interchanges,” she said.

Ms Lawler also commended the work of private security guards hired to monitor public transport alongside the publicly funded transit officers.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was “expected” public transit officers would continue to be funded and more needed to be done to protect workers.

“The feedback we get is that transit safety officers are a very critical part of making people feel confident and safe to travel on our bus networks,” she said.

“But even with their presence, there is still significant law and order issues that need to be addressed.

“We know just a couple of years ago that (anti-social incidents) on Territory buses hit over 7600.”

“So it’s expected that they would be continuing on with this critically important funding that provides a measure of safety to not just bus drivers but, of course, passengers on our bus networks.”

She hinted at “a significant policy announcement” the CLP would make regarding public transport safety in the coming weeks.